JAY – A Jay man was lucky to have not been more seriously hurt, police said, after his pickup truck crossed the center line of a traffic lane and grazed a fully loaded logging truck on Main Street this morning. He does face criminal charges though.
According to Police Chief Larry White, Sr., Brian McLaughlin, 49 of Jay, was driving his 1996 Ford Ranger truck north on Main Street up Jay Hill when his vehicle crossed the yellow line, side swiping a tractor trailer heading south on Main Street.
“The Ranger struck the rear tractor tires of the rig and then the rear tires of the trailer. McLaughlin was lucky and only complained of minor pain to his left arm and shoulder,” White said in a prepared statement. The Ranger received extensive damage to its driver’s side, estimated at $3,000, and was towed from the scene by Main Street Towing.
After further investigation, McLaughlin was charged with operating left of center in a traffic lane, a civil violation, and also criminal misdemeanor charges of operating under the influence and violation of conditional release.
Pierre Morin, 41 of Quebec, was operating the tractor trailer and was not hurt. The 2000 International tractor trailer, owned by Valmont Mathieu & FI LS Inc, also out of Quebec, received a flat tire in the accident.
Assisting White at the scene were Sgt Troy R Young Sr. and the Jay Fire Department personal who provided traffic control around the accident, along with removing debris from the road way.
